HF129

Purpose

• To require ongoing, formal evaluation of Minnesota’s statewide Safe Harbor program for sexually exploited youth. The evaluation will be conducted or contracted by the director of child sex trafficking prevention and used to assess how well the program helps sexually exploited youth and supports related services and funding.

Main Provisions

• Establishment of comprehensive evaluation: The director of child sex trafficking prevention must conduct or contract for a comprehensive evaluation of the statewide Safe Harbor program for sexually exploited youth.
• Evaluation schedule: The first evaluation must be completed by June 30, 2015. An updated evaluation must be submitted to the commissioner of health and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over health and public safety by September 1, 2015, and every two years thereafter in odd-numbered years.
• What to evaluate: The evaluation must consider whether the program reaches intended victims and whether support services are available, accessible, and adequate for sexually exploited youth (as defined in section 260C.007 subdivision 31).
• Outcomes to assess: The evaluation should examine outcomes such as identification of sexually exploited youth, coordination of investigations, access to services and housing for sexually exploited youth, and improved effectiveness of services.
• Funding and penalties: The evaluation must also examine how penalties under section 609.3241 are assessed, collected, and distributed to ensure funding for investigation, prosecution, and victim services to combat sexual exploitation of youth.
• Reporting: The evaluation results must be submitted as specified to the commissioner of health and to the designated legislative committees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amend Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 145.4718 to require a formal, biennial program evaluation of the statewide Safe Harbor program for sexually exploited youth, conducted or contracted by the director of child sex trafficking prevention, with findings shared with health officials and legislative leaders.

Scope & Definitions

• Relevant program: statewide program for Safe Harbor for sexually exploited youth.
• Population focus: sexually exploited youth (as defined by statute in 260C.007 subdivision 31).

Implementation Considerations

• The director’s role includes either conducting the evaluation directly or contracting for it, ensuring an objective assessment of reach, services, housing, and outcomes.
• The evaluation ties to funding considerations, notably how penalties under 609.3241 influence funding for investigation, prosecution, and victim services.

Relevant Terms - director of child sex trafficking prevention - statewide program for safe harbor for sexually exploited youth - sexually exploited youth - comprehensive evaluation - odd-numbered year evaluations (every two years) - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 145.4718 - commissioner of health - section 260C.007 subdivision 31 (definition) - penalties under section 609.3241 - investigation, prosecution, victim services - identification, coordination of investigations, access to services, housing - support services (availability, accessibility, adequacy)